USA TODAY Sports
Just over a week after the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC championship game, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur defends the decision to kick a field goal down by eight in the final minutes.
LaFleur was elected to a 26-yard field goal, as the Packers lost 31-23 with 2:09 to end the game. The conversion narrowed the gap to five, but the Packers never saw the ball again when the Buccaneers closed the victory.
Via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, LaFleur said on Monday that he would make the same call if the same situation arose in front of him.
“If I had to do that again, if it were the fourth goal on the 8-yard line, we would be kicking a field goal,” said LaFleur. “If it’s the fourth and fifth goal, I think we have a different discussion. You have to play the percentages. We made three attempts, but we won no yards. That’s how it is. Some people will agree. Some people will disagree. In my heart, I felt it was the best decision for us. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. “
Reasonably, the decision to kick the basket increased the Packers’ chances of winning the game in regulation. It also increased the chances of losing the game immediately without trying the chance to tie with a touchdown and the two-point conversion necessary to maintain the game. It also meant giving the ball to Tom Brady with just a few first downs needed to seal the victory.
Did not work. The Buccaneers are playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, while the Packers are at home.